Bacterial Contamination of Drinking Water in the Internally Displaced People Camps in South Darfur, Sudan

Abstract

A total of 240 water samples were collected during the three seasons of 2009 from different sites and sources in the internally displaced camps (IDP) including bore holes, hand pumps, dug wells, water points, water reservoir and household storage containers. Samples were investigated using the most probable number method to detect and count the total coliform, faecal coliform and faecal enterococci. Enteric bacteria detected were E. coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Enterobacter .House hold containers showed continuous level of contamination by all different bacteria throughout the three seasons. This was followed by hand pumps, both reservoir and boreholes and dug wells. Water points revealed no level of contamination throughout the three seasons.

Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water and Associated Factors at the Internally Displaced People Sites, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Similarly, in the present study, the majority of samples from water sources (springs and dug well) were positive for faecal coliforms. This study finding in agreement with studies conducted in South Darfur, Sudan and Vina Division, Adamawa, Cameroon by Mohammed Eltahir et al 17 and Viban et al 23 respectively. The reason for contamination with faecal coliforms may be resulted from a lack of fence around the spring and dug well and animals could easily access.…”

“…This finding is in line with the study conducted on a similar setting (IDP site) in South Darfur, Sudan. 17 This might be due to poor hygiene and sanitation practices around water sources causes’ faecal contamination.…”

“…Globally, few studies have investigated the bacteriological quality of drinking water in the IDP sites. 16,17 In recent years, there has been a large movement of IDP in areas of Gedeo zone because of the conflict between Gedeo and Guji ethnic groups. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the bacteriological quality of drinking water and associated factors at the IDP sites of Gedeo zone, Southern Ethiopia.…”

A case analysis of a mass treatment approach to control GI and water-related conditions in Sudan

“…For such prevalent illnesses that are associated with heavy morbidity, and yet largely preventable, it was quite unclear why those underdeveloped countries have not widely adopted a simple, cost-effective, and highly efficient approach as chlorination [ 9 , 10 ] that has been around for decades. This is pretty much in line with the findings of Eltahir et al [ 11 ] study that was the first of its kind to investigate the outcome of treating drinking water with chlorine in IDP and refugees camps in Sudan.…”

Reservoir Chlorination of the Local Well–Tank–Faucet Systems is a Rapid and Efficient Tool for Controlling Water-related Diseases: Pathogens’ Load-clinical Response Rate Correlation

“…The data provided hereinbefore demonstrate how pervasive waterrelated ailments are in urban centers in the country [18][19][20]. Other studies have shown that the situation is even worse in refugee camps, yet none has investigated whether conventional intervention would work in the special settings of Sudanese refugee camps [21]. Our study questioned whether tanks' chlorination, rather than home treatment, would provide a meaningful measure to control waterborne diseases in settlements that were established long time ago.…”